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Biomedical subjects

E Eypasch

Publications and source records attributed to E Eypasch.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Pharmacotherapy in shock syndromes: the neglected field of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Promising effects of adjuvant drugs in experimental shock models often are not confirmed in subsequent clinical trials, e.g., steroids, fibronectin, naloxone, immunotherapeutics. A key difficulty in establishing a therapeutic benefit in clinical studies, apart from study design shortcomings, is the lack of knowledge and application of principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and -dynamics. In shock states the relationship between an administered fixed dose regimen and the drug effect is strongly influenced by dynamic changes in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of the drug, all of which vary between individual patients. This article describes several neglected aspects of clinical pharmacology relevant to shock research under clinical conditions and discusses the indications, prerequisites, and limitations of "applied pharmacokinetics." The inclusion of therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical shock studies should be applied more frequently to establish experimental results in the "real world" of ICU settings.

Animals↗

[Conservative surgery--choice of procedure and strategy: invasive versus minimally invasive surgery].

From the patient's view conservative surgery means less stress and strain through therapeutic interventions. Important criteria for assessment are freedom of pain, preservation of health or quick recovery from bodily impairments as well as reestablishment of integrity and fitness. The surgeon meets the patient's expectations through a careful interview, an operation with a minimally traumatizing access, a rather reliable technique and a careful follow-up. Endoscopic surgery most likely complies with this conception. This is shown in a prospective observational study on laparoscopic cholecystectomies in 500 patients and can also be expected for future indications.

Activities of Daily Living↗

[Quality of life as a justification for high risk therapeutic concepts--pouch or simple reconstruction].

The classic endpoints of mortality and morbidity are no longer sufficient to evaluate new therapeutic concepts. Since significant differences are rarely found between the different patient groups, e.g. pouch vs simple reconstructions in the intestinal tract. Patients undergoing total gastrectomy have a better quality of life after receiving a Hunt-Lawrence-Rodino-pouch than after simple esophagojejunostomy. Similarly ileoanal pouch reconstruction in the pelvis after total colectomy impairs a patient's well-being less than classic enterostomas. Colonic pouch after following very low anterior resections could provide a new approach by substituting for rectum capacity.

Activities of Daily Living↗

[Score systems, their importance for the intensive care patient].

Scoring systems are a technique for defining patients for scientific and management purposes. A hypothetical, severely ill patient with cirrhosis, peritonitis, renal insufficiency and coagulation problems can be precisely classified: Child C, Mannheim-Peritonitis-Index 34 and APACHE II score 27 which results in a mortality of at least 70% of patients. At our own hospital, the continuous APACHE score (CAPS) has been developed and tested. The CAPS performed better than daily APACHE scores and provided useful trend information for the individual patient.

Critical Care↗

[Surgical treatment of malignant tumors of the appendix].

Malignant epithelial tumours of the appendix are rare. They are mostly diagnosed by the pathologist rather than by the surgeon. Very frequently patients with these tumours present themselves with clinical signs of acute appendicitis. Right hemicolectomy is postulated to be the appropriate treatment of choice in all patients with adenocarcinomas of the appendix (colon type, cystic type). On the other hand this radical approach should be applied only to selected cases with carcinoid tumours.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Indications, surgical technique, and long-term functional results of colon interposition or bypass.

Over a 17-year period, 92 patients with esophageal disease underwent colon interposition or bypass, with each operation performed by the same surgeon. The indication was cure of cancer in 20 patients, relief of dysphagia in 55 (cancer in 17 patients and benign in 38), loss of gastrointestinal (G.I.) continuity in ten, and tracheoesophageal fistula in seven patients (malignant in five, benign in 2). The thirty-day operative mortality rate was 5%, and the hospital mortality rate was 9%. Graft necrosis occurred in seven of 92 patients, four of whom later underwent a successful second reconstruction. Thirteen patients required subsequent revisional surgery. In 85 patients, the left colon based on the inferior mesenteric artery was used, and in seven, the right colon was used. Technical insights were gained to help preserve the blood supply to the graft and improve its function in transporting food. Thirty-four patients were available for interview 2-17 years after operation (median of 5 years) 28 of whom had benign disease, and six of whom had malignant disease); 82% of the patients felt they were cured of their preoperative symptoms, 18% improved, and none worsened. Eighty-eight per cent of the patients were able to receive an unrestricted diet. All patients except one were satisfied with the results of surgery, and, asked what they would do if they had to make the choice again, all responded that they would have the operation. Twenty-six of the interviewed patients had their eating ability evaluated with a test meal and the transit time of a liquid and solid barium bolus measured. Compared to controls, patients with colon interpositions consumed a smaller capacity meal over a longer period of time and were not dependent on liquids to flush the food through the colon graft. A colon interposition provides good quality of deglutition, is very durable, and is the organ of choice for patients who require an esophageal substitute and are potential candidates for long survival.

Adult↗

Percutaneous endoscopic duodenostomy (PED). Case report.

Surgeons are increasingly using endoscopy to place transabdominal feeding tubes for enteral nutrition or gastric decompression. A possible extension for the application of this new technique is the direct placement of the feeding tube into the duodenal bulb. Two patients are presented in whom percutaneous endoscopic duodenostomy was successfully performed, although percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was not possible. It shows that this new method is technically possible. In both patients the positive influence of this technique on the patient's quality of life could be shown using the Spitzer Quality of Life Index and the Karnofsky Performance Status. Enteral nutrition was maintained for more than 6 weeks.

Aged↗

Long-term results of Troidl's technique of endoscopic pneumatic dilatation for achalasia of the esophagus. A prospective clinical trial.

In a prospective clinical trial, 26 consecutive patients underwent endoscopic pneumatic dilatation over a 10-year period. Dilatation was achieved by means of a balloon attached to a normal gastrointestinal fiberscope. With the endoscope in an inverse position, the device was placed in the cardia and the dilatation process was monitored macroscopically. Before dilatation, patients suffered from dysphagia (92%), reduced speed of swallowing (100%), symptom aggravation under stress (73%), weight loss (50%), aspiration, pain, regurgitation, and vomiting. After dilatation and long-term follow-up (mean of 5 years), symptoms could be markedly reduced, especially the speed of eating and symptom aggravation under stress. Excellent and good results (Visick scale) were achieved in 76%. Fair results were achieved in 20%. To date, perforation and other complications have not occurred. Mortality was zero. Our series was an uncontrolled trial, so the results are hardly comparable to other studies. Furthermore, the small number of patients in our study represents a weak point with regard to complications. We conclude that the main advantages of the procedure are its simplicity and practicability. The simple procedure may be the method of choice in elderly patients. Of course, no final decision can be made until a well-designed controlled trial has been carried out.

Catheterization↗

Quality of life: an important endpoint both in surgical practice and research.

Surgery asks patients to trade present discomfort and risk for future gains. Although research reports on the effectiveness of surgery have largely focused on mortality, length of hospital stay, major complications, and laboratory analyses, the principal criteria guiding surgeons' clinical decisions and patients' acceptance of treatment are most often the patients' subjective feelings and capabilities, the quality of their lives. This is true for both major and minor surgical procedures. We discuss the role of information on functional capacity, overall well-being, and quality of life in the assessment of surgical outcomes. Broadening the choice of endpoints beyond traditional, so-called "hard" variables in surgical studies has advantages for both surgeons and patients.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

[Endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy--a simple technic for long-term nutrition].

A simple procedure: 'Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy' was useful to provide seriously ill patients with a long-term enteral nutritional support. The catheter remained in place for 26 days in median, up to 1 year. No complications were related to the puncture of stomach. One leakage after changing the catheter through a narrowed channel had to be treated surgically.

Adolescent↗